Willis McGahee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willis McGahee

McGahee with the Baltimore Ravens in 2009
No. 21, 23, 26
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1981-10-21) October 21, 1981 (age 43) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Miami Central (West Little River, Florida)
College:	Miami (FL) (2000–2002)
NFL Draft:	2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23
Career history
Buffalo Bills (2003–2006) Baltimore Ravens (2007–2010) Denver Broncos (2011–2012) Cleveland Browns (2013)
Career highlights and awards
PFWA NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2004) 2× Pro Bowl (2007, 2011) BCS national champion (2001) Big East Offensive Player of the Year (2002) Consensus All-American (2002) First-team All-Big East (2002)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 2,095 Rushing yards: 8,474 Rushing touchdowns: 65 Receptions: 210 Receiving yards: 1,339 Receiving touchdowns: 5
Player stats at PFR

Willis Andrew McGahee III (born October 21, 1981) is a former professional football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He was recognized as an All-American in 2002.

McGahee was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Browns. In 2015, McGahee joined the Miami Surge in the National Pro Grid League.

Early Life and High School Years

Willis McGahee was born in Miami, Florida. He went to Miami Springs High School for three years. Later, he transferred to Miami Central High School for his final year.

College Football Career

Willis McGahee earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami. He played for the Miami Hurricanes football teams from 2000 to 2002. His coaches were Butch Davis and Larry Coker.

Winning a National Championship

McGahee was part of the 2001 University of Miami team. This team won the National Championship. They defeated Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl.

Record-Breaking 2002 Season

In 2002, McGahee had an amazing season. He helped lead Miami to an undefeated regular season. The team was ranked #1 and played in the National Championship game. On December 7, he ran for 205 yards and scored six touchdowns against Virginia Tech. These six touchdowns set a new Big East record.

McGahee broke several school records in 2002. He carried the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards. He also scored 28 touchdowns. He had ten games where he rushed for over 100 yards. This broke the Hurricanes' previous record. He also gained 2,108 all-purpose yards, which is still a Hurricanes' season record. After this great season, he was named a first-team All-Big East player and a first-team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, an award for the nation's best player.

Overcoming a Serious Injury

During the 2003 Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game, McGahee suffered a serious knee injury. This happened in the fourth quarter after he caught a pass. He was hit by a player from Ohio State, which caused tears in several ligaments in his left knee.

Before the injury, he had rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. Miami lost the game in double-overtime. His injury required multiple surgeries and a lot of rehabilitation. Even with this injury, McGahee decided to enter the 2003 NFL draft.

College Statistics Overview

By the end of his college career, McGahee had rushed for 2,067 yards and 31 touchdowns. He studied criminology while at the University of Miami.

Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL Draft

Before his knee injury, experts thought McGahee would be one of the first five players picked in the NFL draft. After the injury, they thought he might be picked much later. This was because of the long recovery he faced.

Buffalo Bills (2003–2006)

The Buffalo Bills chose McGahee in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 23rd overall pick. He missed the entire 2003 season while recovering from his knee injury.

2004 Season: A Strong Comeback

McGahee made his NFL debut in 2004. In Week 6, he became the starting running back. He had 26 carries for 111 yards in a win against the Miami Dolphins. In Week 8, he scored his first two professional touchdowns. He finished the 2004 season with 1,128 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He was named the Comeback Player of the Year for his amazing return.

2005 and 2006 Seasons

In 2005, McGahee continued to play well. He rushed for 1,247 yards and five touchdowns. In 2006, he had 990 rushing yards and six touchdowns. After the 2006 season, the Bills traded him to the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens (2007–2010)

McGahee joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2007. He signed a seven-year contract.

2007 Season: First Pro Bowl

In his first season with Baltimore, he rushed for 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught his first career receiving touchdown. McGahee was selected for his first Pro Bowl in 2007. He had five games with over 100 rushing yards.

2008 Season: Playoff Impact

In 2008, McGahee dealt with several injuries. Despite this, he rushed for 671 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a key part of the Ravens' "Three-Headed-Monster" rushing attack. This helped the team reach the playoffs.

McGahee played a big role in the 2008 playoffs. He helped the Ravens win against the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. In the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he scored two touchdowns. He was later taken off the field after a hard hit but was not seriously injured.

McGahee signing autographs at Andrews Air Force Base, 2007

2009 Season: Leading Scorer

In 2009, McGahee worked hard to improve. The Ravens decided to start Ray Rice at running back. Even with fewer carries, McGahee became the team's leading scorer. He had 14 touchdowns (12 rushing, 2 receiving). In one game, he scored two rushing and two receiving touchdowns. He finished the season tied for second most touchdowns in the league. He also had a career-best game against the Oakland Raiders, rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

2010 Season

McGahee stayed with the Ravens in 2010. He played in 15 games, rushing for 380 yards and five touchdowns. In the playoffs, he scored a 25-yard touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs. This helped seal the win for Baltimore. The Ravens released McGahee in July 2011. He had over 3,300 total yards and 35 touchdowns in his four seasons with the team.

Denver Broncos (2011–2012)

McGahee with the Denver Broncos, 2012

On July 30, 2011, McGahee signed a four-year deal with the Denver Broncos. He became the primary running back after an injury to Knowshon Moreno.

2011 Season: Another Pro Bowl

In Week 2, he rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. In Week 4, he had 103 rushing yards. He also had 125 rushing yards in Week 5. McGahee fractured his hand in Week 7 but returned to play. In Week 9, he had 163 rushing yards, including a 60-yard touchdown.

In November 2011, McGahee was named a team captain. He rushed for 117 yards in a key win against the Chargers. He also gained 111 yards in a win against the Vikings. McGahee reached the 1,000-yard mark in Week 16. He was added to the 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

2012 Season: Injury and Release

McGahee started as the top running back for the Broncos in 2012. He played well, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. In Week 2, he rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11. This injury involved a torn ligament and a fracture. He finished the 2012 season with 731 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Broncos released McGahee in June 2013.

Cleveland Browns (2013)

After the Cleveland Browns traded their starting running back, they brought in McGahee. He passed his physical and agreed to join the team. In the 2013 season, McGahee played in 12 games. He had 377 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Personal Life

In 2016, Willis McGahee appeared on the reality television series Famously Single. He also appeared in commercials for Easterns Automotive Group.

NFL Career Statistics Overview